Jazz band’s leader stayin’ alive
Brian Bowsher
Editor in Chief
xavier.edu
The jazz band shows off their groovy instruments.
Traveling more than 5,500 miles in seven days, John DeFoor’s week prior to Super Bowl XLI gives new meaning to the phrase, “the daily commute.”
Faced with a scheduling conflict last month, DeFoor, director of jazz studies at Xavier University, seemingly had to choose to direct rehearsals and performances at either Xavier or the Super Bowl in Miami. But DeFoor, who has been involved in jazz, playing, touring, recording and teaching since the 1950s, decided he could just do both.
Flying back and forth between the two cities located about 900 miles apart, DeFoor made three separate round-trip flights in the span of a week that allowed him to fulfill his obligation to his current students at Xavier as well as continue a 30-year-old tradition of directing Rara Avis, an ensemble that plays every year for the NFL commissioner at the Super Bowl.
“It’s a big, huge party,” said DeFoor.
Making three round-trip flights in just a week, DeFoor boarded an airplane to or from Cincinnati or Miami six separate times begining the week of Tuesday, Jan. 30. Resting in South Florida for the Super Bowl on Feb. 4, DeFoor returned home for good on Monday, Feb. 5.
DeFoor, has to directed the Xavier University Jazz Ensemble since 1983, has led Rara Avis at the NFL commissioner’s annual pre-Super Bowl party every year since Super Bowl XI in 1977.
Performing for hundreds of NFL executives, sportswriters and fans, DeFoor’s band plays charts written and arranged by members of the ensemble, primarily comprised of his former students from the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Directing Rara Avis provides DeFoor with the opportunity to reconnect and reminisce with his former pupils without having to spend a penny. “It’s like a reunion paid for by the NFL,” he said.
Xavier junior Mike Spillane, a tenor sax in the XU Jazz Ensemble and current president of the organization, requested to accompany DeFoor to Miami and play at this year’s Super Bowl, but was told he was about eighth on the waiting list. “Any chance that I would get to play would be on a last minute notification,” he said.
As evidenced in the long waiting list, Spillane says that he as well as all of DeFoor’s students possess a great deal of respect for their teacher, especially after hearing about the incredible travel schedule DeFoor undertook in order to accommodate Xavier’s Wednesday rehearsal and Friday show.
“I think he was insane to leave the warm weather of Miami to return to the ice storms in Cincinnati,” said Spillane. “He is really dedicated to his students and the jazz band here at Xavier.”
It is DeFoor’s sense of dedication that makes him agree to the rigorous travel and the extra burden that comes with directing an additional ensemble in the middle of the school year.
Though he has threatened to quit in a few years, the NFL always manages to convince him to come back. Former NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle once instructed him, “Don’t miss a year, John, or you’re going to lose it,” and DeFoor has followed that advice every year.
xavier.edu
John DeFoor
It was a matter of luck that DeFoor even had the chance to play at the Super Bowl in the first place. DeFoor was in charge of the jazz program at Cal Poly, located about 10 miles from the Rose Bowl, the site of Super Bowl XI, when the NFL came calling. “I don’t know how they heard about us,” said DeFoor. “But Rozelle called and asked us to play.”
Someone at the NFL was impressed by the performance because DeFoor and Rara Avis were invited back the following year for Super Bowl XII in New Orleans. A third show at Super Bowl XIII in Miami and a fourth appearance the following year back in Pasadena, Calif. at the Rose Bowl made DeFoor and Rara Avis an annual staple of the Super Bowl festivities.
The tradition became so cherished that, according to DeFoor, not even “The Queen of Latin Pop,” Gloria Estefan, could convince the Rara Avis horn section to leave the band to play with her.
DeFoor remembers “Boogie,” the ensemble’s lead trumpet player, telling the Grammy award-winner, “You couldn’t pay me enough.”
It is this mutual devotion between DeFoor and his students that first brought DeFoor to Xavier in 1983. Having quit his job at Cal Poly, DeFoor quickly realized that he missed the interaction with college students.
“When I came to Xavier, it was like coming home,” said DeFoor. “Teaching keeps you young. It keeps you current and it challenges you, but it’s fun. To be honest, it probably keeps me alive.”
When DeFoor attended a high school reunion several years ago, his former classmates could not believe he was not retired. When they asked him why he continues to work, DeFoor responded by saying, “Because I’m having too much fun.”
And don’t expect a retirement announcement from DeFoor anytime soon.
“They’ll have to bury me,” he said.
Zodiac’s stars carry film
Newswire Official Rating: 
Wade Hasenour
Contributing Writer
warner bros.
Mark Ruffalo studies his documents when he should have studied his wardbrobe.
Acting much like a documentary, this informative movie was based off the national bestseller “Zodiac,” and was written by a cartoonist turned writer during the time of the Zodiac serial killings. Author of the book “Zodiac,” Robert Graysmith portrays the real life Zodiac as a bizarre serial killer that not only kills but basks in the enjoyment that no one can stop him.
With the aid of the director of “Seven” and “Fight Club,” David Fincher worked with an amazing group of actors such as Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edward, Robert Downey Jr., Brian Cox and John Carroll Lynch. Together.
Throughout the entire movie, chaos and the camera follow an alcoholic and drug-addicted editorial writer named Paul Avery (Robert Downey, Jr.) with his co-worker cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal). Together they tumble slowly into the bottomless pit of insanity created by the serial killer Zodiac. Soon after brutal killings, letters were sent to the press addressing why people were dying horrible deaths.
Following this murderous and psychotic behavior, inspector David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) comes in to control the situation concerning the Zodiac. Quickly, all of the characters violently crash into one another while chasing after this publicity-hungry executioner.
After this crash of characters, Paul Avery finds himself the victim of drug abuse and paranoia, Robert Graysmith becomes fixated and obsessed in finding the twisted psycho-killer that haunts San Francisco, and the SFPD inspector can no longer conduct his inconclusive case. Pouring through thousands of files, Graysmith continues to pursue the killer in a desperate attempt to bring justice to the Zodiac’s killings.
The question, “Can the Zodiac killer be brought to justice?” still remains throughout the entire movie.
Director David Fincher may not have done his best, but with a great set of actors it was almost impossible to mess up this movie. While the movie continued to be insightful and fulfilling through the rounded character of Graysmith, Fincher flattens the suspense and action by risking the rounding of other characters, creating a patience for facts in the film, and putting too much spacing between each creepy and scary scene. What keeps the viewer guessing are the creepy behaviors and psychotic actions of the actual sick killer within Zodiac.
“Zodiac” may also be a let down to many who look for an extremely suspenseful movie and overall it may frustrate the viewer. This movie was not as good as it should have been for a movie directed by David Fincher and acted by an all-star roster of actors, but it was still entertaining.
‘300’ shows off its muscles
Newswire Official Rating: 
Brandy Williams
Asst. Diversions Editor
warner bros.
So why is one side wearing lots of clothes and the other side isn’t?
The hottest new movie of the season, “300,” wowed audiences with awesome graphics, fighting scenes, 300 muscle ripped Spartan men and so much more. Although this movie is based on historical facts, it is certainly not your typical history lesson.
“300” is based on the epic novel by author Frank Miller, who also wrote the book-turned-movie “Sin City.” It depicts the mythical Battle of Thermoplae of 480 B.C. when 300 Spartan soldiers went up against the barbarous hordes of the Persian god-king Xerxes and fought to the death, valiantly defending Greek notions of freedom and justice.
The movie opens with the brutal rites of passage of a Spartan man and we are instantly thrust into quick-witted decisions, brutality, passionate bravery and a few specks of cockiness from the Spartans who think that they are the gods’ gift to earth.
King Leonidas, played by Gerald Butler, and the 300 Spartan soldiers fought against the better advice of the sickly money-hungry Oracles and Spartan councilmen who warned them not to go to battle because of an upcoming religious holiday.
The warriors defy the council in an effort to inspire all of Greece to unite against their Persian enemy.
We are spun into a love story as well, between Leonidas and his wife, Queen Gorgo (Lena Headly) when she gives her all and sacrifices herself, literally, to defend her husband’s honor and sway the council to send reinforcement troops to help the 300 Spartan warriors.
The action shots look amazing and the film has a comic book type feel to it, as it was all shot against a green screen. The director Zack Snyder does a great job ofcapturing the sun as it bounces off the soldiers triceps and eight packs…I mean, he does a great job of choosing the best action shots and making the audience feel as though they are truly watching history.
Although soldiers back in that time did not have a lot of technology, it is really surprising to see how 300 men make use of a shield, spear and helmet to slaughter hundreds of thousands in the Persian army.
The movie is rated “R” for graphic battle sequences throughout, some sexuality and nudity. It is definitely an awesome movie and a must see. Even if you are not interested in history or the story line, going to watch the graphics is worth it.
Stephanie Metz
Diversions Editor
Rock the Chapel
Come rock the Chapel at 9 p.m. on Thursday in Bellarmine Chapel. Join Navigators, Campus Ministry, Life After Sunday, Athletes in Action and Gospel Choir for a night of praise and worship. A live band will be present as Xavier’s campus comes together to “Rock the Chapel.”
Late Night Snack
What is better than BW 3’s wings? How about free BW3’s wings? Come out at 10 p.m. on Thursday in GSC food court for free buffalo wild wings. Make sure to get there early before they run out!
Sophisticated Gala
Come dance the night away at Buengers Sophisticated Week Gala from 8-11 p.m. on Saturday in the Armory. Dress in your finest formal wear and enjoy dancing, hors d’eouvres, a chocolate fountain and great door prizes. Tickets are $3 for singles and $5 for couples and are on sale in Buenger’s lobby during duty hours.
Comedian Tracey Ashley
What’s funny about Mondays? Come to the GSC Atrium at 9 p.m. on Monday and find out. Comedian Tracey Ashley will make you laugh your socks off! Refreshments will be served. This event is free to Xavier students.
Classic college movie series
Buellers...Bueller? Anyone? Practically every line from the movie is a catch phrase, so come hear all of them at once! The classic college movie series is showing “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” at 11 p.m. on Thursday in the GSC Theatre to students with an All Card.
